41: Shen Jianxing at the end of his rope

Lin Chuping's words made the Little Green Snake freeze for a moment, then it excitedly wagged its tail.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

"My Lord Spirit, this little snake dares not boast about anything else, but when it comes to making connections across the world, I am absolutely second to none."

"Let alone a few scoundrels, I can even find you jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards!"

Lin Chuping couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.

"Since that's the case, then I'll trouble you to make a trip and have a good talk with them. As long as they are willing to serve me, their future rewards will naturally not be lacking."

After a pause, Lin Chuping continued, "Of course, your referral fee will also not be forgotten."

The Little Green Snake nodded vigorously, then its form flickered, and it swiftly swam out of the temple, disappearing into the vast night in the blink of an eye.

*

At the same time, at the Wanbao Merchant Guild headquarters in the capital.

"Cough, cough!"

A violent fit of coughing suddenly broke the original silence in the room, followed by intermittent, barely audible speech.

It was as if every syllable required all his strength to squeeze out of his throat.

"Big Brother, I'm afraid... I... won't make it."

"Don't talk nonsense. The medicine sent from Qingzhou earlier had good effects, but it was too little. Big Brother will go beg again, and if I can't beg, I'll steal."

"If one isn't enough, then two. If two aren't enough, then three. They will definitely make you better."

Looking at his weak younger brother on the bed, Shen Jianhong wished he could take his place.

His third brother, Shen Family's most talented, originally had a chance to reach Seventh Grade, but three years ago, during a duel with a Corpse Demon, his foundation was damaged.

It was strange!

Corpse Demons themselves have no consciousness, just like walking corpses, acting purely on instinct.

However, at that time, it seemed to suddenly get a boost, targeting Shen Jianxing and relentlessly pursuing him, as if it had a vendetta against Shen Jianxing for killing its father.

After a bitter battle, although the Corpse Demon died, Shen Jianxing barely managed to cling to life.

Originally, a Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, while unable to restore Shen Jianxing's martial cultivation talent, could have completely cured him. But the problem was that Shen Jianxing was poisoned.

The poison was constantly destroying his body, and no matter how many Medicinal Pills he took, if the poison wasn't detoxified, it would only be treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Hearing his Big Brother say this, Shen Jianxing laboriously raised his hand to stop him.

"Big Brother... I can't hold on anymore."

Shen Jianxing's voice was very weak, as if every word he spoke drained all his strength.

He had been half-dead but stable, then suddenly saw hope, but this hope was like a flash in the pan, instantly plunging him back into boundless despair.

With this rise and fall, Shen Jianxing's last bit of spirit was almost completely exhausted.

He leaned on the bed, his face ashen, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

Shen Jianhong sat by the bed, carefully wiping Shen Jianxing's sweat.

"Xiao Xing, don't say that!"

"What kind of storms hasn't our Shen Family seen? This poison of yours..."

"I've already received news that this Medicinal Pill came from Chang Sheng Village in Qingzhou. It's said that a Lord Chuping has manifested there, and perhaps he can save you!"

Shen Jianxing gave a bitter smile.

"My body, even the famous doctors in the capital are helpless, so why should I place hope in a rural rumor?"

Shen Jianhong, however, was unfazed, his tone carrying a hint of persistence.

"Jianxing, don't underestimate these rural rumors. Our Wanbao Merchant Guild can establish itself in Qingzhou precisely because of these seemingly insignificant pieces of information."

"I've already sent people to Qingzhou to investigate. If there really is a spirit's blessing, we must try it no matter what!"

Shen Jianxing looked at his Big Brother's firm gaze, and a warm current flowed through his heart.

Ever since his incident, the whole family had worried themselves sick over his health.

"Big Brother, thank you. However, the Wanbao Merchant Guild already has enough on its plate. Don't delay important matters because of me."

Shen Jianhong shook his head, his tone carrying an undeniable resolve.

"Jianxing, you are my younger brother. Your life is more important than anything. Father and I will handle the matters of the Wanbao Merchant Guild. You just focus on recovering. Once there's news from Qingzhou, we'll leave immediately."

Shen Jianxing said nothing more, just nodded gently, his expression weary, as if utterly exhausted.

"Third Brother, rest well, and await my good news."

*

After Shen Jianhong turned and left the room, his gentle expression instantly vanished, replaced by a gloomy one.

Damn Corpse Demon!

That battle three years ago not only left Shen Jianxing critically wounded, but also plunged the entire Shen Family into endless pain.

Afterward, Shen Jianhong also investigated whether his younger brother was framed, which was why the Corpse Demon relentlessly pursued him, but... he found nothing.

As the investigation deepened, Shen Jianhong had a terrifying conjecture.

High-level Yao Race would consciously suppress human Prodigies before they could rise.

Although it was just a conjecture, Shen Jianhong had carefully observed for three years and found that examples like their family were not uncommon.

Once a young human Prodigy advanced, the Yao Race would inevitably send themselves to launch suicidal attacks.

Without exception.

This conjecture was too terrifying. The Yao Race was consciously suppressing humans, and humans, surprisingly, couldn't even fully recognize the types of Yao Race.

Shen Jianhong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the various emotions in his heart, and turned towards the study.

He must find a way to cure Shen Jianxing as soon as possible.

And Lord Chuping of Chang Sheng Village in Qingzhou might be their last hope.

Inside the study, the gray-robed elder had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Shen Jianhong enter, the elder quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Young Master, news has come from Qingzhou. Lord Chuping of Chang Sheng Village has indeed manifested multiple times, and the villagers have great faith in him."

"However, Jin Er mentioned in his letter that Liu Chunsheng, the Temple Official of Chang Sheng Village, is just a bumpkin, and Chang Sheng Village is currently a mess..."

"We can just step in."

Shen Jianhong took the secret letter and read it carefully.

A moment later, his brows furrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice.

"I'll go personally this time."

The gray-robed elder hesitated, then said in a low voice, "Young Master, your body..."

"It's fine."

*

A few days later, the Little Green Snake finally brought back explosive news.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

"After Blood Fiend occupied Qingyun Mountain, he abandoned the hunting of humans and promised to protect the Mortals living in the Prefecture City."

"Hiss! Hiss!"

"Blood Fiend Wolf King actually gave up hunting humans and instead promised to protect the Mortals of the Prefecture City?"

Lin Chuping's brows furrowed slightly after hearing the Little Green Snake's report.

Something was wrong.

Extremely wrong.

As one of the strongest Yao Race in Qingzhou, the Blood Fiend Wolf King had always been known for his cruelty and greed.

Suddenly changing his strategy, abandoning the hunting of humans, and instead promising to protect Mortals, there must be some unspeakable motive hidden behind this.

"Xiao Qing, what other news did you find out?"

Lin Chuping asked in a low voice.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

The Blood Fiend Wolf King has established a 'shelter' in the Prefecture City. Any Mortal willing to submit to him can enter the shelter to live.

He also promised that as long as Mortals entered the Prefecture City, he would protect them from harm from other Yao Race.